Ecuador's Beccacece insists World Cup hopes 'not over yet' after shock Curacao draw

[p]The result left [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ecuador/8tbm8Tri/"]‌Ecuador[/a] with one point from two Group E ‌matches after their opening [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ecuador-8tbm8Tri/ivory-coast-G2FRjBgn/?mid=h8pzQySI"]1-0 defeat[/a] by the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ivory-coast/G2FRjBgn/"]Ivory Coast[/a], and needing a result against heavyweights [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/germany/ptQide1O/"]Germany[/a] in New ‌Jersey on Thursday to have any ⁠chance of reaching ‌the round of 32.[/p][p][b]"Life has taught me you have to ​always continue to work, always learn, and challenges can become opportunities,"[/b] Beccacece told reporters.[/p][p][b]"It ​is normal now to feel this pain, this disappointment, but this is not over yet. We have ⁠100 minutes ahead ​of us, and we're going to be there in a sound way to try to reach our goals."[/b][/p][embed guid="0b020163-e865-4cbd-bb9f-4a42ea82cb6d" url="https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2068580424352452804" social-type="twitter" /][p]Ecuador [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/curacao-bLLGpOkQ/ecuador-8tbm8Tri/?mid=p2XLmuKP"]dominated for long stretches[/a] but could not ‌find a way past 37-year-old Room, who produced a string of spectacular stops and was named man of the match. Beccacece's side finished the match with 28 attempts at goal.[/p][p][b]"There are things you cannot explain in soccer,"[/b] the Argentine coach said. [b]"Anything I say might be counter-productive. We wanted to win. We didn't do it. I am the ‌one who bears the responsibility."[/b][/p][p]Ecuador arrived at the ​World Cup on a 19-match unbeaten run, having ‌finished South American qualifying runners-up to reigning world champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a], and also had long spells of dominance in the match against the Ivory Coast.[/p][p]Despite the setback, Beccacece defended his players' effort.[/p][p][b]"The ⁠team deserved more ⁠than they got,"[/b] he ‌said.[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]